Why the Gators are Loaded

Reviewing All-SEC teams in various magazines - Athlon's, Lindy's, Sporting News and Steele's magazine (which picks 4 All-SEC teams), confirms that the Gators are the best team in the SEC and the country. Here are the Gators listed by these magazines as potential All-SEC:

OC - Mike Pouncey
OG - Carl Johnson
OT - Xavier Nixon
OT - Marcus Gilbert
QB - John Brantley
RB - Jeff Demps
WR - Deonte Thompson
Slot - Chris Rainey (as a KR exclusively)


What's more telling are the Gators that aren't listed on the preseason All-SEC lists.

OL - James Wilson - tremendous talent and is ready to emerge as a star if he stays healthy.
OL - Maurice Hurt - started five games in 2009, fifth year senior with loads of experience.
OL - Mat Patchan
TE - Jordan Reed - QB moved to TE was the talk of the spring.
TE - Gerald Christian - very physical one of the top TE recruits in nation
WR - Carl Moore - a 5 star coming out of JC, had a great Spring.
WR - Andre Debose is getting healthy he's a slot guy. Was recruited to take Percry Harvin's position

Kicker - Sturgis
Punter - Henry

Next are the defensive players mentioned by the magazines as a preseason All-SEC selection...

NG - Omar Hunter
DE - Justin Trattou
LB - Brandon Hicks
LB - AJ Jones
CB - Janoris Jenkins
S - Will Hill
S - Ahmad Black.

Not making the list

DT - Jay Howard a fan and coach favorite expected to become an All-SEC type player
DT - Lawrence Marsh - started on 08 National Championship Team
DT - Terron Sanders - started on 08 National Championship Team
DE - William Green - extremely quick DE who's now up to 250 he could have a breakout year
DE - Ronald Powell - Ranked the top prospect in the country at any position
LB - Jelani Jenkins.- Had strong spring,
LB - Jonathan Bostic - in the rotation.
S - Matt Elam - Will be a super star, Urban Meyer says, "He WILL play!"

Florida needs to find another corner, Adrian Bushell was going to be that guy but couldn't toe the line in Meyer's program. They have a lot of talent like Jeremy Brown if he can get healthy they have some young guys like Joshua Shaw and Jaylen Watkins. Black could play corner and they could start Elam at his safety position if push came to shove.

Depth wise the Gators are in great shape perhaps the strongest position is at running back. Mike Gillislee, Emmanuel Moody with incoming Mac Brown and Travon Van the Gators are as good as they've been in a long time.

Florida can't lose Brantley. Backup true freshman Trey Burton came a long way in the spring but he can't be expected to be anywhere near Brantley's level. Brantley is going into his fourth year in the program waiting patiently behind Tim Tebow. Many feel, including this man, that Brantley is the best pure passer to step on the field for Florida.

Burton is an excellent runner and made a lot of nice throws in the spring game.

Florida has two fine kickers, with Chris Rainey returning kicks and punts they shouldn't miss a beat with departure of Brandon James. If Rainey can stay healthy he should have a huge year at slot a position he should have been at from the day he stepped on campus.